Open Travel Guide
Restaurants in Erzurum

Best Restaurants in Erzurum 2026

How to eat well in Erzurum at every budget, and the local dishes you shouldn't leave without trying.

By Updated

The short answer: start with Güzelyurt Cağ Kebap, Çekirdeksiz Cağ Kebap and Hacı Baba Restaurant. This guide profiles 25+ restaurants and places to eat in Erzurum, with prices, timing, and the practical notes that decide whether each one earns a place in your plan.

Erzurum is a historic city at 1,890 metres elevation in northeastern Turkey, commanding the high plateau where ancient Silk Road caravans once crossed. The city holds one of Turkey's finest concentrations of Seljuk and Mongol architecture — the Çifte Minareli Medrese, Yakutiye Medresesi and Üç Kümbetler tombs stand beside an Ottoman castle with sweeping panoramas. Fifteen kilometres from the centre, Palandöken mountain hosts one of the Middle East's premier ski resorts. Erzurum is the birthplace of cağ kebabı, the horizontally-spit-roasted lamb unique to the region, and the origin of oltu taşı jet-stone jewellery.

Erzurum's culinary identity revolves around lamb cooked in wood fire and stone ovens. Cağ kebabı — horizontally spit-roasted lamb sliced and wrapped in lavash — was invented here and remains the city's signature dish. Büryan (pit-roasted whole lamb), katmer (stuffed flaky pastry), keşkek (pounded wheat and lamb stew) and etli ekmek (long flatbread with meat) round out the regional canon. Desserts include Erzurum kadayıfı (shredded wheat soaked in syrup) and sütlaç (rice pudding). Ayran and çay are the default drinks.

Top restaurants

Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.

Cağ Kebabı / Eastern Anatolian

Güzelyurt Cağ Kebap

150–350 TRY / $4.50–10 per portion4.8/5

Popular Cağ Kebabı / Eastern Anatolian restaurant in Erzurum.

Known for: The most celebrated cağ kebabı restaurant in Erzurum — locals line up from breakfast

Cumhuriyet Caddesi, Muratpaşa Mh., 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Cağ Kebabı

Çekirdeksiz Cağ Kebap

120–300 TRY / $3.60–9 per portion4.7/5

Popular Cağ Kebabı restaurant in Erzurum.

Known for: Old-school cağ kebap spot near the bazaar; open from early morning

Taşhan Caddesi, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Eastern Anatolian / Turkish

Hacı Baba Restaurant

200–500 TRY / $6–15 per meal4.5/5

Popular Eastern Anatolian / Turkish restaurant in Erzurum.

Known for: Full menu of Erzurum regional dishes beyond cağ kebabı

Kazım Karabekir Caddesi No:15, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish / Regional Anatolian

Salon Asya

150–350 TRY / $4.50–10 per meal4.3/5

Popular Turkish / Regional Anatolian restaurant in Erzurum.

Known for: Affordable home-style cooking; popular with university students and locals

Havuzbaşı Mh., 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish Desserts

Erzurum Kadayıf Evi

60–150 TRY / $1.80–4.50 per portion4.6/5

Popular Turkish Desserts restaurant in Erzurum.

Known for: Home of the city's signature shredded wheat dessert — a must-try Erzurum speciality

Cumhuriyet Caddesi, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Eastern Anatolian / Grill

Köşkeroğlu Restaurant

200–450 TRY / $6–13.50 per meal4.4/5

Popular Eastern Anatolian / Grill restaurant in Erzurum.

Known for: Family-run grill restaurant; good mixed kebab platter

Ordu Caddesi, Muratpaşa Mh., 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish / International

Dedeman Palandöken Restaurant

500–1200 TRY / $15–36 per meal4.4/5

Popular Turkish / International restaurant in Erzurum.

Known for: Mountain restaurant with ski slope views; best buffet in Palandöken area

Palandöken Mevkii, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish Pide / Flatbread

Nefis Pide Salonu

80–200 TRY / $2.40–6 per pide4.4/5

Popular Turkish Pide / Flatbread restaurant in Erzurum.

Known for: Stone-oven pide baked to order; one of the best pide spots in the city

Kazım Karabekir Caddesi, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby

Restaurants by cuisine

Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.

Turkish

Turkish Home Cooking

Şehir Lokantası

100–250 TRY / $3–7.50 per meal4.2/5

Known for: Traditional tray-service lokanta — point to dishes behind the glass counter

Terminal Caddesi, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish / Pit Roast

Büryan Kebap Erzurum

150–350 TRY / $4.50–10 per portion4.5/5

Known for: Slow-pit-roasted whole lamb; typically sold out by 14:00

Muratpaşa Mahallesi, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish Etli Ekmek

Erzurum Etli Ekmek Fırını

80–150 TRY / $2.40–4.50 per ekmek4.3/5

Known for: Metre-long flatbreads baked in wood-fired ovens — a staple of eastern Anatolian eating

Havuzbaşı Mh., 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish / Cafe

Cafe Kaçkar

80–250 TRY / $2.40–7.50 per item4.2/5

Known for: Popular café for breakfast and tea; good WiFi for working

Cumhuriyet Caddesi, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish Grill

Palandöken Ocakbaşı

250–500 TRY / $7.50–15 per meal4.3/5

Known for: Charcoal grill restaurant popular with après-ski groups

Palandöken Yolu, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish Döner

Döner Dünyası

60–150 TRY / $1.80–4.50 per serving4.0/5

Known for: Quick and cheap döner; good for budget travellers on the move

Terminal Caddesi, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish Home Cooking

Güneş Lokantası

80–200 TRY / $2.40–6 per meal4.1/5

Known for: Workers' lokanta with fresh daily specials cooked from scratch each morning

Ordu Caddesi, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish Tea and Snacks

Erzurum Çay Bahçesi (Tea Garden)

20–80 TRY / $0.60–2.40 per tea / snack4.3/5

Known for: Traditional tea garden with castle views; ideal afternoon stop

Kale Mahallesi, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish Börek

Erzurum Börek Evi

50–120 TRY / $1.50–3.60 per börek slice4.4/5

Known for: Freshly baked börek straight from the oven every morning; classic Turkish breakfast

Cumhuriyet Caddesi, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish / Café

Palandöken Café Restaurant

150–400 TRY / $4.50–124.1/5

Known for: Casual slope-side café; great for warming up between ski runs

Palandöken Resort, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish Manti (dumplings)

Erzurum Mantı Evi

100–200 TRY / $3–6 per bowl4.4/5

Known for: Hand-rolled mantı dumplings — one of Turkey's best versions made in small family kitchen

Yakutiye Mh., 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish Café / Light Bites

Keyif Cafe

50–200 TRY / $1.50–64.2/5

Known for: Popular student café near the university campus; good for coffees and light snacks

Atatürk Üniversitesi yakını, 25240 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Turkish Bakery

Fırın 46

20–100 TRY / $0.60–3 per item4.3/5

Known for: Old-fashioned stone-oven bakery open before dawn; best simit in the city

Cumhuriyet Caddesi, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby

Eastern Anatolian

Eastern Anatolian / Mixed Grill

Aras Restaurant

200–450 TRY / $6–13.50 per meal4.3/5

Known for: Well-regarded regional restaurant with a broad menu of eastern Anatolian specialities

Kazım Karabekir Caddesi, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby
Eastern Anatolian

Oltu Taş Restoran

180–400 TRY / $5.50–12 per meal4.2/5

Known for: Tucked into the bazaar district — authentic daily specials at low prices

Taşhan Mh., 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby

Eastern Anatolian Village Food

Eastern Anatolian Village Food

Köy Sofrası

200–400 TRY / $6–12 per meal4.5/5

Known for: Village-style spread served in a rustic setting; popular for family lunch on weekends

Yenişehir Mh., 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby

Historical Erzurum Cuisine

Historical Erzurum Cuisine

Tarihi Erzurum Mutfağı

200–450 TRY / $6–13.50 per meal4.5/5

Known for: Menu dedicated entirely to historical Erzurum recipes; good for culinary tourism

Yakutiye Mahallesi, 25100 Erzurum

Food tours nearby

Food tours & tastings in Erzurum

Eat your way through Erzurum with a guide.

Browse food experiences in Erzurum

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Street food

Local flavours at affordable prices.

Street food

Simit

Find it at: Street vendors on Cumhuriyet Caddesi

Price: 10–15 TRY / $0.30–0.45

Street food

Lahmacun (thin meat flatbread)

Find it at: Pide salons throughout city

Price: 30–60 TRY / $0.90–1.80

Street food

Döner dürüm

Find it at: Small shops near the bus terminal

Price: 60–100 TRY / $1.80–3

Street food

Kokoreç (offal sandwich)

Find it at: Late-night street stalls near Havuzbaşı

Price: 60–120 TRY / $1.80–3.60

Food markets

Where locals shop and graze.

Erzurum Hali (indoor market)

Hours: Monday–Saturday 08:00–18:00

Cumartesi Pazarı (Saturday market)

Hours: Saturdays 07:00–14:00

Dining etiquette & tips

Navigate the local food scene confidently.

Tip

Eat cağ kebabı for breakfast — locals start at 07:00 and the best shops sell out by 10:00

Tip

Ask for 'bir porsyon' (one portion) of cağ kebabı — each portion is 3–4 skewers, plenty for one person

Tip

Lokanta restaurants display dishes behind glass; point to what appeals — no menu needed

Tip

Alcohol is not widely served in Erzurum's city-centre restaurants; it is available at hotel bars and a few licensed establishments

Food budget guide

What to expect at different price points.

Level Price Description
Budget $5-15/meal Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants.
Mid-range $15-40/meal Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus.
Upscale $40+/meal Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences.

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